A joint resolution honoring the contribution of blacks to American independence.
Public Law 98-245 · H.J.Res. 454 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Mar 27, 1984 · Social Sciences and History
Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT-6)
Cosponsors (235): Rep. Michael Andrews, Rep. Tommy Vandergriff,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Expresses the appreciation of Congress to the descendants of blacks who contributed to American Independence.
Encourages State and local governments and private organizations to conduct activities during Black History Month 1985 in honor of black involvement in the American Revolution.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Census and Population Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Mar 27, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-245.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Mar 15, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Mar 12, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote.
- Mar 8, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Mar 1, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- Feb 29, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Jan 30, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Census and Population Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Jan 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.